_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ACANTHORHYNCHUS TENUIROSTRIS.
Slender-billed Spine-bill.
_Certhia tenuirostris_, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. xxxvi.
_Le Cap noir_, Vieill. Ois. Dor., tom. ii. p. 94. pl. 60.
_Slender-billed Honey-eater_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 194. pl.
lxii.
_Flapping Honey-eater_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. iv. p. 195.
_Hooded Creeper_, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 109.
_Slender-billed Creeper_, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl., vol. ii. p. 165. pl.
129.
_Meliphaga tenuirostris_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
317.
_Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris_, Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part
II.
—— _dubius?_ Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 25; and in Syn.
Birds of Australia, Part II.
_Cobbler’s Awl_, Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land.
_Spine-bill_, Colonists of New South Wales.
On referring to the above list of synonyms, it will be seen that I
formerly entertained an opinion that there were two species of this
genus very nearly allied to each other, the one a native of Van Diemen’s
Land, and the other of the continent of Australia; the former being
distinguished from the latter by its smaller size in all its
admeasurements, by the crescent-shaped markings of the neck, and by the
brown of the abdomen being much deeper in colour; I am now, however,
inclined to believe that they are identical; but as no conclusive
evidence that such is the case has yet been obtained, I must leave the
matter still doubtful until further research shall enable us to decide
the question. In habits, disposition and nidification the two birds
closely assimilate, as I had abundant opportunities of observing during
my residence in the colonies.
There is no member of the large family of Honey-eaters to which it
belongs that enjoys a structure more especially adapted for the purposes
of its existence than the present species, whose fine and extremely
delicate bill is peculiarly suited for the extraction of insects and
honey from the inmost recesses of the tubular flowers which abound in
many parts of Australia, particularly of the various species of
_Epacris_, a tribe of plants closely allied to the Heaths (_Erica_) of
Africa and Europe, which when in bloom are always frequented by numbers
of these birds, so much so indeed that it would seem as if the one was
expressly designed for the other, the flowers for the birds and _vice
versâ_; those who have traversed the immense beds of _Epacris impressa_,
so abundant in Van Diemen’s Land, must have often observed the bird
darting out from beneath his feet and flitting off to a very short
distance, descending again to the thickest parts of the beds. It also
frequents the wattles and gums during their flowering-season, and
appears to be attracted to their blossoms quite as much for the insects
as for the nectar, the stomachs of all those dissected containing the
remains of coleoptera and other insects. It is rather shy in disposition
except when closely engaged in procuring food, when it may be approached
within a yard or two.
Its flight is extremely quick and darting and performed with a zigzag
motion; and its note, which is a monotonous shriek, is somewhat loud for
so small a bird. Should the bird to which I have given the name of
_dubius_ prove to be merely a local variety, this species will be found
to range over a wide extent of country, including Van Diemen’s Land, all
the islands in Bass’s Straits, and the continent of Australia from South
Australia to Moreton Bay; to the eastward of the former, or to the
eastward and northward of the latter country, I have never been able to
trace it.
The nest of this species is a small cup-shaped and rather beautiful
structure, although not so compact or neatly formed as that of many
other birds; those I found, both in Van Diemen’s Land and New South
Wales, were built on some low shrubs a few feet from the ground, mostly
in a species of _Leptospermum_; it is outwardly constructed of moss and
grasses, and lined with feathers; the eggs are two in number, of a
delicate huffy white, increasing in depth of colour towards the larger
end; in some instances I have found them marked with a zone of reddish
chestnut spots shaded with indistinct markings of grey, intermingled
with very minute ink-like dots; in form the eggs are much lengthened and
pointed; their medium length is nine lines and breadth six lines.
Crown of the head shining greenish black; space between the bill and the
eye, ear-coverts, lunated band on the sides of the chest, primaries, and
six middle tail-feathers black; the remainder of the tail-feathers black
largely tipped with white, and slightly margined on the external web
with brown; back of the neck rufous chestnut, passing into
chestnut-brown on the upper part of the back; secondaries, greater
wing-coverts, rump and upper tail-coverts grey; throat, cheeks and chest
white, the first with a patch of chestnut-brown in the centre, deepening
into black on its lower edge; abdomen, flanks and under tail-coverts
light chestnut-brown; irides scarlet; bill black; feet reddish brown.
Specimens from Van Diemen’s Land have the patch in the centre of the
throat and the lunated marks on the sides of the neck much deeper and
the whole of the under surface richer chestnut.
The figures are those of a male and female, on a branch of what is
considered a white variety of _Epacris impressa_.
[Illustration:
ACANTHORHYNCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
ACANTHORHYNCHUS SUPERCILIOSUS, _Gould_.
White-eyebrowed Spine-bill.
_Acanthorhynchus superciliosus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V.
p. 24.
_Bool-jeet_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Australia.
Hitherto I have only received this fine and well-marked species of
Spine-billed Honey-eater from Western Australia, but hereafter it will
doubtless be found to range over a much greater extent of country;
although a very local bird, it is tolerably abundant both at Swan River
and King George’s Sound, and is found to give a decided preference to
the forests of Banksias, upon the blossoms of which trees it almost
solely subsists. Its food, like that of the other members of its family,
consists of insects and honey, for obtaining which its delicately
organized bill and the filamentous form of its tongue are peculiarly
adapted; the latter member being capable of considerable protrusion
beyond the apex of the bill, thus enabling the bird to dive into the
deepest interstices of the flowers, which its bill alone would not
permit. Like its congeners, this species occasionally frequents the low
shrub-like trees, and sometimes is even to be observed upon the ground
in search of food. In its actions it displays great activity, darting
about from branch to branch with a rapid zigzag motion; its flight is
irregular and uneven, but it often rises perpendicularly in the air,
uttering at the same time a rather pretty song; at others it emits a
loud and strong note.
The nest, which is constructed among the large-leaved Banksias, is of a
round compact form, and is composed of dried fine grasses, tendrils of
flowers, narrow threads of bark and fine wiry fibrous roots matted
together with zamia wool, forming a thick body, which is warmly lined
with feathers and zamia wool mingled together; the external diameter of
the nest is three inches, and that of the cavity about one inch and a
quarter. The eggs are two in number, nine lines long by six and a half
broad; their ground colour in some instances is a delicate buff, in
others a very delicate bluish white with a few specks of reddish brown
distributed over the surface, these specks being most numerous at the
larger end, where they frequently assume the form of a zone. The
breeding-season is in October.
The sexes present little or no difference in external appearance, but
the female may generally be distinguished from her mate by her more
diminutive size and the more slender contour of her body.
Crown of the head, all the upper surface, wings, and six middle
tail-feathers greyish brown, the remainder of the tail-feathers black,
largely tipped with white and narrowly margined on their external edges
with brown; space between the bill and eye, and the ear-coverts blackish
brown; stripe over the eye, chin, and a broader stripe beneath the eye
white; back part of the neck light chestnut-brown; centre of the throat
rich chestnut, bounded below by a crescent of white, which is succeeded
by another of black; abdomen and under tail-coverts light greyish brown,
in some specimens deepening into buff; irides reddish brown; bill black;
legs dark brown.
The figures are those of a male and a female of the natural size.
[Illustration: